UK approaching its ‘darkest hour’

UK

The Guardian reported on a prediction apparently made by senior EU diplomats ahead of this week’s EU summit in Salzburg, that the British government will shift its Brexit stance when it is looking down the barrel of its “darkest hour.” According to the newspaper, some diplomats believe Britain will look into the “no-deal abyss” and then back down on both the Irish backstop and the single market for goods. The Times reported Brussels would demand Prime Minister Theresa May make “credible assurances” that the U.K. wouldn’t attempt to renegotiate Brexit if she is replaced in the top job. Meanwhile the FT reported Chancellor Philip Hammond backed the warning issued by the International Monetary Fund on Monday that a no-deal Brexit would substantially affect the U.K. economy.

Germany

Much of the German press focused on the expected firing of the country’s domestic security agency chief, Hans-Georg Maaßen, which papers reckoned would be announced Tuesday. Maaßen has faced a barrage of criticism over an ongoing scandal over his response to the far-right riots in Chemnitz and his alleged ties to the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Chancellor Angela Merkel has so far not commented on the news publicly, but Die Welt reported she had made up her mind that “Maaßen has to go.” Der Tagesspiegel reported German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier demanded “a fast decision” on the matter.

Frankfurter Allgemeine reported that Russia and Turkey had decided on a demilitarized buffer zone in the Syrian city of Idlib. The newspaper also reported on the Boris Johnson-Theresa May spat, saying the former foreign secretary had called the PM’s Brexit plan a “constitutional abomination.”

France

La Dépêche reported on French President Emmanuel Macron’s health reforms, to be announced on Tuesday. Le Monde and Le Figaro focused on the Monday resignation of Bruno Julliard, the deputy mayor of Paris. Le Figaro said the move would mean “increasing isolation” for Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Spain

El País reported that Theresa May’s government had ruled out a second Brexit referendum. El País and La Vanguardia reported on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez proposing a constitutional reform to end “aforamientos,” a process under which roughly 17,000 MPs, judges, public attorneys, prosecutors, senators and others in Spain are barred from being judged by regular courts and instead must seek rulings from the highest courts.